What is Silymarin?

Silymarin is the active extract found in the seeds of the milk thistle plant. Milk thistle is native to areas of Europe but can now also be found growing throughout areas of the United States. The seeds of milk thistle contain a number of complex flavonoid compounds including silibinin, silidianin, and silicristin, which together are known as Silymarin. This extract has been a popular herbal treatment for liver dysfunction for thousands of years. Today Silymarin has been found to be beneficial against a number of other diseases and dysfunctions as well.

Liver

Since the Middle Ages, Silymarin has been used to treat various liver dysfunctions. Scientists have discovered that Silymarin is a powerful antioxidant, fighting the effects of oxidation and free radicals that cause damage to cells in the liver and throughout the body. Studies have shown that Silymarin can reduce damage in the liver that is a result of acetaminophen, recreational drugs, pesticides, some poisons, excess iron, and even hepatitis. The extract has also been shown to be effective in reversing damage done to liver cells by alcohol, including early stage cirrhosis.

Kidneys

Animal studies have shown that Silymarin helps reduce damage to the kidneys from chemotherapeutic drugs. The extract reduced and prevented toxicity in the kidney cells of rats. Trials are still being conducted to see if Silymarin will have the same effect on human kidneys.

Milk Production

Studies have been preformed on the effect of Silymarin on nursing mothers. Results from previous tests had shown that the extract effectively increased milk production in cows. In the human trials, the results showed a significant increase in the daily milk production of new nursing mothers, with no negative effect on milk quality.

Other Benefits

In addition to the benefits above Silymarin has also been shown to alleviate oxidative stress, and reduce memory impairments associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Silymarin may also be effective in promoting skin health, reducing damage to the skin from burns and inhibiting cancer growth or melanoma from UV radiation. Silymarin may be effective for reducing cholesterol and blood lipids and some claim that the extract is a good natural cure for hangovers. It has also been used to help cleanse or detox the body, and has been touted as a natural alternative to anabolic steroid use.

Side Effects of Silymarin

There are very few side effects reported from Silymarin use. Some have noted stomach irritation when taking a Silymarin supplement in capsule or tablet form. The extract may also have a mild laxative effect in users.

Conclusion

There are so many great things that Silymarin has been found to help with and many more that it is being studied for. It will be exciting to see what new benefits are found from this amazing plant.

There is little regulation in place for milk thistle extract or Silymarin. You will want to pay close attention to labels if you are purchasing this supplement to make sure you are getting a quality product that will be effective.